Panama City, Panama – More than 22,000 people are currently living with HIV in Panama. The Ministry of Health, known as Minsa, is reinforcing a multi-sectoral plan to address this public health challenge. Officials announced the updated strategy during a meeting of the National Commission for the Prevention and Control of HIV (CONAVIH) on June 4, 2026.
📑 Table of Contents
The plan focuses on prevention, early diagnosis, and treatment access. Panama aims to end AIDS as a public health threat by 2030. The country’s HIV prevalence in Panama remains a key concern for health authorities. Young people are seeing rising infection rates, which drives the urgency of this new approach.
New Strategic Plan Targets 2030 Goals
Health Minister Fernando Boyd Galindo led the CONAVIH meeting. He emphasized the need for stronger inter-institutional collaboration. The new framework is called the Multisectoral Strategic Plan for the Comprehensive Response to HIV and other STIs 2025-2029. This document will guide national actions for the next several years.
“Today we highlight the implementation of the Multisectoral Strategic Plan for the Comprehensive Response to HIV and other STIs 2025-2029. This plan will guide the country’s actions during the coming years and will contribute to meeting the goal of ending AIDS as a public health threat by the year 2030,” said Boyd. [Translated from Spanish]
Carlos Chávez heads the HIV/AIDS Section at the Ministry of Health. He explained that the plan prioritizes several critical areas. These include strengthening prevention efforts, ensuring early diagnosis, and improving treatment access. Sustainability of the national response and human rights promotion are also central themes.
Fighting Stigma and Accelerating Action
Chávez noted that strategies include specific actions to reduce stigma and discrimination. People living with HIV still face these barriers daily. The health official confirmed that work has already started on the 2026-2027 operational plan. This will speed up measures needed to achieve the national goal of eliminating HIV as a public health problem.
The government is working toward the UNAIDS 2030 goal to end AIDS. This international target requires countries to reduce new infections and deaths dramatically. Panama’s new plan aligns with these global benchmarks.
More than 22,000 people currently live with HIV in Panama, according to Minsa figures. The disease remains one of the country’s main health challenges. Authorities have reiterated their commitment to guaranteeing quality services. They will strengthen prevention strategies and continue working with public institutions, civil organizations, the private sector, and international agencies.
CONAVIH brings together government entities, civil society organizations, private sector representatives, indigenous authorities, and international bodies. This diverse group collaborates to strengthen the national response to HIV and other sexually transmitted infections. The Comprehensive Response relies on this multi-sectoral approach to reach vulnerable populations effectively.
Health officials stressed that young people represent a growing concern. Infection rates among this demographic are climbing. Prevention campaigns will target schools and community centers. Testing services are being expanded in rural and indigenous areas. Treatment programs aim to keep patients in care and reduce viral transmission.
The Ministry of Health plans to release quarterly progress reports. These will track the plan’s implementation and measure its impact. Panama’s commitment to the 2030 goal remains firm, officials said. The next CONAVIH meeting is scheduled for September 2026 to review initial results.